Underground cable for street-car propulsion



(No Model.)

L. MYERS.

UNDERGROUND CABLE FOR. STREET GAR PROPULSION. No. 265,273 Pe ltented0015.3,1882.

N..PETER. Phalo-Uhclgnpher. Washington D. C.

ilNrTE TATES LAURENCE MYERS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,273, dated Octobera, 1882.

Application filed December 19, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be. it known that I, LAURENCE MYERS, oi thecity and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented an Improve.- ment in Underground Cables for Street-OarPropulsion,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to underground cables adapted to propel street-carsand it consists in means whereby two of said cables may cross each otherwithout interfering with the propulsion of the cars; further, in adouble cable connected together by cross pieces forming spacesequivalent to links, and in many details of construction, which arefully set forth in the following specification and shown in theaccompanying drawings, which form part therof.

In the drawings, Figure] is a plan view of a crossing, with the topbroken away, embodying in it my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectionalelevation of same on linear m. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the twocrossing-cables and the means by which acar is enabled to crossa cablewithout interruption. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of my method ofturning a corner with the double cable, and Fig. 5 is a cross-section ofsame.

A are the ordinary tubes or conduits, in which the cables B areconstantly traveling, being guided by rollers D; and E are the topplates or covers between which the longitudinal slot 0 is formed. At acrossing the tubes or conduits A open into each other, as shown in Fig.1, and one cable is slightly depressed to pass below the other,as shownin Fig. 2. Thccables I prefer to use I make of two longitudinal wirecables, B,connected together every few inches by cross-harsh, woven intosaid cables, orothcrwise secured, and these cables run upon idler-Wheels D, which are provided on the sides with guiding-flanges d, and inthe center with an annular groove, (1. I Upon each side of the cables B,and secured rigidly to the tubes A at the crossing, are inclinedguideways (J, said guideways leaving a +-opening immediately over theplace of crossing of the two cables B, and at this point the guidewaysare widened, so as to make the tracks as near a continuous track aspossible. These guidewaysO begin below the cables and extend somedistance above I them at the point of crossing, and then are curved downagain below the cables on the other side. This is clearly shown in Figs.2 and 3.

The street-car tracks F are arranged upon either side of the conduits A,and the cars G are provided with a slidingrod or bar, H, which is guidedby a support, I, secured to the car, and prevented from descending belowa given point by a pin, *5, or other equivalent device, as a collar orenlargement. This rod H carries on the bottom a roller, J, to prevent itcatching on projections and insure its being easily moved. Near thebottom, and rigidly secured to the rod H, is a casting, K, carrying uponeither side a friction-wheel, L, which is adapted to run upon aguideway, 0, when passing over a crossing to move the end of the barH'out of contact with either of the cables. In going around a corner thecable lies upon the flanges of vertical guide-wheels arranged uponeither side of it, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

If desired, single wire or other cables may be used in place of myimproved double cable, as my invention is adapted to all kinds ofcables.

In the bottom ot'the conduits A,I place pipes M, through which I passhot air or gas to thaw out any frozen slush or snow or ice which mayhave been formed in it during the winter.

The operation of myimprovemen'ts is as follows: A car upon either trackhas its bar or rod H down, so that the end extends through the cable Band between the side strands and any two cross-bars, and is beingpropelled by the moving cable. ing the friction-rollers L run uponguideways O and lift the end of the bar or rod H out of the cable andclear of both cables at the point of crossing. The momentum of the carcarries it sufficiently far to allow the bar H to descend through theagency of the other or descending guideway G, and causes it to enter thecable again and continue the propulsion of the car. if the bar H shoulddescend upon one of the cross-bars b, the roller J on its end causes itto slip off between the next two cross-bars. By this means the deviceworks automatically to enable a car to cross another cable, andovercomes one of the greatest objections heretofore raised againstunderground cables as propellers for cars.

\Vhen it reaches the cross-.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a system of underground cables forpropelling streetcars, two cables crossing each other and traveling indifferent directions, in combination with a street-car, averticallysliding bar to connect with said cables, and mechanismarranged at said crossing to automatically raise said bar up and clearof both of said cables upon passing the place of intersection and thenallow said bar to fall into contact again with its cable, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

2. In a system of underground cables for propelling street-ca s, twocables crossing at an angle, in combination with inclined guideways,said guideways beginning below said cables and meeting at or near thepoint of crossing and at some distance above it, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

3. In asystem for underground cables for propelling street-cars, twocables crossing each other, in combination with a streetcar providedwith the vertically-sliding bar H, carrying on its bottom guide orfriction-wheels L and inclined guideways G, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

4. The combination ofan underground cableas a propeller for street-carswith a car, r, and a rod or bar, H, adapted to slide vertically, andprovided on its bottom with a roller, J, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

5. The combination of conduit A, covers E, having longitudinal slot 0,cable B, rollers l) D, car Gr, provided with vertically-sliding bar H,inclined guideways O, and heating-pipes M, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

6. The combination of conduit A, curved to turn a corner,vertically-pivoted guide-rollers, provided with flanges upon which thecable rests, with cable 13, consisting of longitudinal strands B andcross-bars b, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

LAURENCE MYERS.

Vitncsscs:

R. M. HUNTER, R. S. UHILns, Jr.

